System for new platform awareness

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the present disclosure involve providing a platform user notification to users in a chat session. A user device receives from a server chat status message data for a chat session. The user device detects a specified platform being used by a user in the chat session based on the chat status message data. The user device provides a chat session user interface a platform presence icon associated with the user indicating that the user is using the specified platform.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/367,669, filed Jul. 5, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to user interfaces and more particularly to user interfaces used in first time user experiences.

BACKGROUND

Users of social networking systems enjoy using the latest services of the social networking systems. Therefore, it is desirable to have a convenient way to notify users of a social network that a new service is available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced. Some non-limiting examples are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a networked environment in which the present disclosure may be deployed, according to some examples.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a messaging system, according to some examples, that has both client-side and server-side functionality.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a data structure as maintained in a database, according to some examples.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a message, according to some examples.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for an access-limiting process, according to some examples.

FIG. 6A is a process flow diagram of a platform notification method, according to some examples.

FIG. 6B is a sequence diagram of a platform notification method, according to some examples.

FIG. 6C, is an illustration of a user interface of a platform notification method, according to some examples.

FIG. 6D, is an illustration of another user interface of a platform notification method, according to some examples.

FIG. 6E is an illustration of another user interface of a platform notification method, according to some examples.

FIG. 6F is an illustration of another user interface of a platform notification method, according to some examples.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions may be executed to cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, according to some examples.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a software architecture within which examples may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes systems, methods, techniques, instruction sequences, and computing machine program products that embody illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of various embodiments of the inventive subject matter. It will be evident, however, to those skilled in the art, that embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In general, well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures, and techniques are not necessarily shown in detail.

Operators of social networking systems sometimes provide their applications on many different platforms. For example, a social networking application may be used on a smartphone and on a personal computer. When a new platform is added to the mix of platforms, it may take some time before users become aware of the new platform and adopt the new platform. Therefore, it may be desirable to introduce a new platform into the mix of platforms in a subtle and natural way. One way to do so is to indicate that other users associated with a user in a social network are using the new platform through the use of presence icons that are associated with a user when the user uses a specified platform to access services of the social networking systems.

In some examples, a user uses a user device to access an interaction service to participate in a chat session. Sometimes, the chat session is a one-to-one session where the user chats with one other user. The user device provides a presence icon associated with the other user indicating whether the user is using a specified platform. If the other user is using the specified platform, the user device provides a presence icon associated with the user that includes a portion indicating the other user's use of the specified platform. In addition, the user device provides a status message identifying the user as using the specified platform. The user device also provides a selectable education action button that when selected by the user causes the user device to provide an educational user interface to the user.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

Networked Computing Environment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example interaction system 100 for facilitating interactions (e.g., exchanging text messages, conducting text audio and video calls, or playing games) over a network. The interaction system 100 includes multiple client systems 102, each of which hosts multiple applications, including an interaction client 104 and other applications 106. Each interaction client 104 is communicatively coupled, via one or more communication networks including a network 108 (e.g., the Internet), to other instances of the interaction client 104 (e.g., hosted on respective other user systems 102), an interaction server system 110 and third-party servers 112). An interaction client 104 can also communicate with locally hosted applications 106 using Applications Program Interfaces (APIs).

Each user system 102 may include multiple user devices, such as a mobile device 114, head-wearable apparatus 116, and a computer user device 118 that are communicatively connected to exchange data and messages.

An interaction client 104 interacts with other interaction clients 104 and with the interaction server system 110 via the network 108. The data exchanged between the interaction clients 104 (e.g., interactions 120) and between the interaction clients 104 and the interaction server system 110 includes functions (e.g., commands to invoke functions) and payload data (e.g., text, audio, video, or other multimedia data).

The interaction server system 110 provides server-side functionality via the network 108 to the interaction clients 104. While certain functions of the interaction system 100 are described herein as being performed by either an interaction client 104 or by the interaction server system 110, the location of certain functionality either within the interaction client 104 or the interaction server system 110 may be a design choice. For example, it may be technically preferable to initially deploy particular technology and functionality within the interaction server system 110 but to later migrate this technology and functionality to the interaction client 104 where a user system 102 has sufficient processing capacity.

The interaction server system 110 supports various services and operations that are provided to the interaction clients 104. Such operations include transmitting data to, receiving data from, and processing data generated by the interaction clients 104. This data may include message content, user device information, geolocation information, media augmentation and overlays, message content persistence conditions, social network information, and live event information. Data exchanges within the interaction system 100 are invoked and controlled through functions available via User Interfaces (UIs) of the interaction clients 104.

Turning now specifically to the interaction server system 110, an Application Program Interface (API) server 122 is coupled to and provides programmatic interfaces to interaction servers 124, making the functions of the interaction servers 124 accessible to interaction clients 104, other applications 106 and third-party server 112. The interaction servers 124 are communicatively coupled to a database server 126, facilitating access to a database 128 that stores data associated with interactions processed by the interaction servers 124. Similarly, a web server 130 is coupled to the interaction servers 124 and provides web-based interfaces to the interaction servers 124. To this end, the web server 130 processes incoming network requests over the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and several other related protocols.

The Application Program Interface (API) server 122 receives and transmits interaction data (e.g., commands and message payloads) between the interaction servers 124 and the client systems 102 (and, for example, interaction clients 104 and other application 106) and the third-party server 112. Specifically, the Application Program Interface (API) server 122 provides a set of interfaces (e.g., routines and protocols) that can be called or queried by the interaction client 104 and other applications 106 to invoke functionality of the interaction servers 124. The Application Program Interface (API) server 122 exposes various functions supported by the interaction servers 124, including account registration; login functionality; the sending of interaction data, via the interaction servers 124, from a particular interaction client 104 to another interaction client 104; the communication of media files (e.g., images or video) from an interaction client 104 to the interaction servers 124; the settings of a collection of media data (e.g., a story); the retrieval of a list of friends of a user of a user system 102; the retrieval of messages and content; the addition and deletion of entities (e.g., friends) to an entity graph (e.g., a social graph); the location of friends within a social graph; and opening an application event (e.g., relating to the interaction client 104).

The interaction servers 124 host multiple systems and subsystems, described below with reference to FIG. 2 .

System Architecture

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating further details regarding the interaction system 100, according to some examples. Specifically, the interaction system 100 is shown to comprise the interaction client 104 and the interaction servers 124. The interaction system 100 embodies multiple subsystems, which are supported on the client-side by the interaction client 104 and on the server-side by the interaction servers 124. Example subsystems are discussed below.

An image processing system 202 provides various functions that enable a user to capture and augment (e.g., annotate or otherwise modify or edit) media content associated with a message.

A camera system 204 includes control software (e.g., in a camera application) that interacts with and controls hardware camera hardware (e.g., directly or via operating system controls) of the user system 102 to modify and augment real-time images captured and displayed via the interaction client 104.

The augmentation system 206 provides functions related to the generation and publishing of augmentations (e.g., media overlays) for images captured in real-time by cameras of the user system 102 or retrieved from memory of the user system 102. For example, the augmentation system 206 operatively selects, presents, and displays media overlays (e.g., an image filter or an image lens) to the interaction client 104 for the augmentation of real-time images received via the camera system 204 or stored images retrieved from memory of a user system 102. These augmentations are selected by the augmentation system 206 and presented to a user of an interaction client 104, based on a number of inputs and data, such as for example:

-   -   Geolocation of the user system 102; and     -   Social network information of the user of the user system 102.

An augmentation may include audio and visual content and visual effects. Examples of audio and visual content include pictures, texts, logos, animations, and sound effects. An example of a visual effect includes color overlaying. The audio and visual content or the visual effects can be applied to a media content item (e.g., a photo or video) at user system 102 for communication in a message, or applied to video content, such as a video content stream or feed transmitted from an interaction client 104. As such, the image processing system 202 may interact with, and support, the various subsystems of the communication system 208, such as the messaging system 210 and the video communication system 212.

A media overlay may include text or image data that can be overlaid on top of a photograph taken by the user system 102 or a video stream produced by the user system 102. In some examples, the media overlay may be a location overlay (e.g., Venice beach), a name of a live event, or a name of a merchant overlay (e.g., Beach Coffee House). In further examples, the image processing system 202 uses the geolocation of the user system 102 to identify a media overlay that includes the name of a merchant at the geolocation of the user system 102. The media overlay may include other indicia associated with the merchant. The media overlays may be stored in the databases 128 and accessed through the database server 126.

The image processing system 202 provides a user-based publication platform that enables users to select a geolocation on a map and upload content associated with the selected geolocation. The user may also specify circumstances under which a particular media overlay should be offered to other users. The image processing system 202 generates a media overlay that includes the uploaded content and associates the uploaded content with the selected geolocation.

The augmentation creation system 214 supports augmented reality developer platforms and includes an application for content creators (e.g., artists and developers) to create and publish augmentations (e.g., augmented reality experiences) of the interaction client 104. The augmentation creation system 214 provides a library of built-in features and tools to content creators including, for example custom shaders, tracking technology, and templates.

In some examples, the augmentation creation system 214 provides a merchant-based publication platform that enables merchants to select a particular augmentation associated with a geolocation via a bidding process. For example, the augmentation creation system 214 associates a media overlay of the highest bidding merchant with a corresponding geolocation for a predefined amount of time.

A communication system 208 is responsible for enabling and processing multiple forms of communication and interaction within the interaction system 100 and includes a messaging system 210, an audio communication system 216, and a video communication system 212. The messaging system 210 is responsible for enforcing the temporary or time-limited access to content by the interaction clients 104. The messaging system 210 incorporates multiple timers (e.g., within an ephemeral timer system 218) that, based on duration and display parameters associated with a message or collection of messages (e.g., a story), selectively enable access (e.g., for presentation and display) to messages and associated content via the interaction client 104. Further details regarding the operation of the ephemeral timer system 218 are provided below. The audio communication system 216 enables and supports audio communications (e.g., real-time audio chat) between multiple interaction clients 104. Similarly, the video communication system 212 enables and supports video communications (e.g., real-time video chat) between multiple interaction clients 104.

A user management system 220 is operationally responsible for the management of user data and profiles, and includes a social network system 222 that maintains information regarding relationships between users of the interaction system 100.

A collection management system 224 is operationally responsible for managing sets or collections of media (e.g., collections of text, image video, and audio data). A collection of content (e.g., messages, including images, video, text, and audio) may be organized into an “event gallery” or an “event story.” Such a collection may be made available for a specified time period, such as the duration of an event to which the content relates. For example, content relating to a music concert may be made available as a “story” for the duration of that music concert. The collection management system 224 may also be responsible for publishing an icon that provides notification of a particular collection to the User Interface of the interaction client 104. The collection management system 224 includes a curation function that allows a collection manager to manage and curate a particular collection of content. For example, the curation interface enables an event organizer to curate a collection of content relating to a specific event (e.g., delete inappropriate content or redundant messages). Additionally, the collection management system 224 employs machine vision (or image recognition technology) and content rules to curate a content collection automatically. In certain examples, compensation may be paid to a user to include user-generated content into a collection. In such cases, the collection management system 224 operates to automatically make payments to such users to use their content.

A map system 226 provides various geographic location functions and supports the presentation of map-based media content and messages by the interaction client 104. For example, the map system 226 enables the display of user icons or avatars (e.g., stored in profile data 302) on a map to indicate a current or past location of “friends” of a user, as well as media content (e.g., collections of messages including photographs and videos) generated by such friends, within the context of a map. For example, a message posted by a user to the interaction system 100 from a specific geographic location may be displayed within the context of a map at that particular location to “friends” of a specific user on a map interface of the interaction client 104. A user can furthermore share his or her location and status information (e.g., using an appropriate status avatar) with other users of the interaction system 100 via the interaction client 104, with this location and status information being similarly displayed within the context of a map interface of the interaction client 104 to selected users.

A game system 228 provides various gaming functions within the context of the interaction client 104. The interaction client 104 provides a game interface providing a list of available games that can be launched by a user within the context of the interaction client 104 and played with other users of the interaction system 100. The interaction system 100 further enables a particular user to invite other users to participate in the play of a specific game by issuing invitations to such other users from the interaction client 104. The interaction client 104 also supports audio, video, and text messaging (e.g., chats) within the context of gameplay, provides a leaderboard for the games, and also supports the provision of in-game rewards (e.g., coins and items).

An external resource system 230 provides an interface for the interaction client 104 to communicate with remote servers (e.g., third-party servers 112) to launch or access external resources, i.e., applications or applets. Each third-party server 112 hosts, for example, a markup language (e.g., HTML5) based application or a small-scale version of an application (e.g., game, utility, payment, or ride-sharing application). The interaction client 104 may launch a web-based resource (e.g., application) by accessing the HTML5 file from the third-party servers 112 associated with the web-based resource. Applications hosted by third-party servers 112 are programmed in JavaScript leveraging a Software Development Kit (SDK) provided by the interaction servers 124. The SDK includes Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) with functions that can be called or invoked by the web-based application. The interaction servers 124 host a JavaScript library that provides a given external resource access to specific user data of the interaction client 104. HTML5 is an example of technology for programming games, but applications and resources programmed based on other technologies can be used.

To integrate the functions of the SDK into the web-based resource, the SDK is downloaded by the third-party server 112 from the interaction servers 124 or is otherwise received by the third-party server 112. Once downloaded or received, the SDK is included as part of the application code of a web-based external resource. The code of the web-based resource can then call or invoke certain functions of the SDK to integrate features of the interaction client 104 into the web-based resource.

The SDK stored on the interaction server system 110 effectively provides the bridge between an external resource (e.g., applications 106 or applets) and the interaction client 104. This gives the user a seamless experience of communicating with other users on the interaction client 104 while also preserving the look and feel of the interaction client 104. To bridge communications between an external resource and an interaction client 104, the SDK facilitates communication between third-party servers 112 and the interaction client 104. A Web ViewJavaScriptBridge running on a user system 102 establishes two one-way communication channels between an external resource and the interaction client 104. Messages are sent between the external resource and the interaction client 104 via these communication channels asynchronously. Each SDK function invocation is sent as a message and callback. Each SDK function is implemented by constructing a unique callback identifier and sending a message with that callback identifier.

By using the SDK, not all information from the interaction client 104 is shared with third-party servers 112. The SDK limits which information is shared based on the needs of the external resource. Each third-party server 112 provides an HTML5 file corresponding to the web-based external resource to interaction servers 124. The interaction servers 124 can add a visual representation (such as a box art or other graphic) of the web-based external resource in the interaction client 104. Once the user selects the visual representation or instructs the interaction client 104 through a GUI of the interaction client 104 to access features of the web-based external resource, the interaction client 104 obtains the HTML5 file and instantiates the resources to access the features of the web-based external resource.

The interaction client 104 presents a graphical User Interface (e.g., a landing page or title screen) for an external resource. During, before, or after presenting the landing page or title screen, the interaction client 104 determines whether the launched external resource has been previously authorized to access user data of the interaction client 104. In response to determining that the launched external resource has been previously authorized to access user data of the interaction client 104, the interaction client 104 presents another graphical User Interface of the external resource that includes functions and features of the external resource. In response to determining that the launched external resource has not been previously authorized to access user data of the interaction client 104, after a threshold period of time (e.g., 3 seconds) of displaying the landing page or title screen of the external resource, the interaction client 104 slides up (e.g., animates a menu as surfacing from a bottom of the screen to a middle or other portion of the screen) a menu for authorizing the external resource to access the user data. The menu identifies the type of user data that the external resource will be authorized to use. In response to receiving a user selection of an accept option, the interaction client 104 adds the external resource to a list of authorized external resources and allows the external resource to access user data from the interaction client 104. The external resource is authorized by the interaction client 104 to access the user data under an OAuth 2 framework.

The interaction client 104 controls the type of user data that is shared with external resources based on the type of external resource being authorized. For example, external resources that include full-scale applications (e.g., an application 106) are provided with access to a first type of user data (e.g., two-dimensional avatars of users with or without different avatar characteristics). As another example, external resources that include small-scale versions of applications (e.g., web-based versions of applications) are provided with access to a second type of user data (e.g., payment information, two-dimensional avatars of users, three-dimensional avatars of users, and avatars with various avatar characteristics). Avatar characteristics include different ways to customize a look and feel of an avatar, such as different poses, facial features, clothing, and so forth.

An advertisement system 232 operationally enables the purchasing of advertisements by third parties for presentation to end-users via the interaction clients 104 and also handles the delivery and presentation of these advertisements.

Data Architecture

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating data structures 300, which may be stored in the database 304 of the interaction server system 110, according to certain examples. While the content of the database 304 is shown to comprise multiple tables, it will be appreciated that the data could be stored in other types of data structures (e.g., as an object-oriented database).

The database 304 includes message data stored within a message table 306. This message data includes, for any particular message, at least message sender data, message recipient (or receiver) data, and a payload. Further details regarding information that may be included in a message, and included within the message data stored in the message table 306, are described below with reference to FIG. 3 .

An entity table 308 stores entity data, and is linked (e.g., referentially) to an entity graph 310 and profile data 302. Entities for which records are maintained within the entity table 308 may include individuals, corporate entities, organizations, objects, places, events, and so forth. Regardless of entity type, any entity regarding which the interaction server system 110 stores data may be a recognized entity. Each entity is provided with a unique identifier, as well as an entity type identifier (not shown).

The entity graph 310 stores information regarding relationships and associations between entities. Such relationships may be social, professional (e.g., work at a common corporation or organization), interest-based, or activity-based, merely for example. Certain relationships between entities may be unidirectional, such as a subscription by an individual user to digital content of a commercial or publishing user (e.g., a newspaper or other digital media outlet, or a brand). Other relationships may be bidirectional, such as a “friend” relationship between individual users of the interaction system 100.

Certain permissions and relationships may be attached to each relationship, and also to each direction of a relationship. For example, a bidirectional relationship (e.g., a friend relationship between individual users) may include authorization for the publication of digital content items between the individual users, but may impose certain restrictions or filters on the publication of such digital content items (e.g., based on content characteristics, location data or time of day data). Similarly, a subscription relationship between an individual user and a commercial user may impose different degrees of restrictions on the publication of digital content from the commercial user to the individual user, and may significantly restrict or block the publication of digital content from the individual user to the commercial user. A particular user, as an example of an entity, may record certain restrictions (e.g., by way of privacy settings) in a record for that entity within the entity table 308. Such privacy settings may be applied to all types of relationships within the context of the interaction system 100, or may selectively be applied to only certain types of relationships.

The profile data 302 stores multiple types of profile data about a particular entity. The profile data 302 may be selectively used and presented to other users of the interaction system 100 based on privacy settings specified by a particular entity. Where the entity is an individual, the profile data 302 includes, for example, a user name, telephone number, address, settings (e.g., notification and privacy settings), as well as a user-selected avatar representation (or collection of such avatar representations). A particular user may then selectively include one or more of these avatar representations within the content of messages communicated via the interaction system 100, and on map interfaces displayed by interaction clients 104 to other users. The collection of avatar representations may include “status avatars,” which present a graphical representation of a status or activity that the user may select to communicate at a particular time.

Where the entity is a group, the profile data 302 for the group may similarly include one or more avatar representations associated with the group, in addition to the group name, members, and various settings (e.g., notifications) for the relevant group.

The database 304 also stores augmentation data, such as overlays or filters, in an augmentation table 312. The augmentation data is associated with and applied to videos (for which data is stored in a video table 314) and images (for which data is stored in an image table 316).

Filters, in some examples, are overlays that are displayed as overlaid on an image or video during presentation to a recipient user. Filters may be of various types, including user-selected filters from a set of filters presented to a sending user by the interaction client 104 when the sending user is composing a message. Other types of filters include geolocation filters (also known as geo-filters), which may be presented to a sending user based on geographic location. For example, geolocation filters specific to a neighborhood or special location may be presented within a User Interface by the interaction client 104, based on geolocation information determined by a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit of the user system 102.

Another type of filter is a data filter, which may be selectively presented to a sending user by the interaction client 104 based on other inputs or information gathered by the user system 102 during the message creation process. Examples of data filters include current temperature at a specific location, a current speed at which a sending user is traveling, battery life for a user system 102, or the current time.

Other augmentation data that may be stored within the image table 316 includes augmented reality content items (e.g., corresponding to applying Lenses or augmented reality experiences). An augmented reality content item may be a real-time special effect and sound that may be added to an image or a video.

As described above, augmentation data includes augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) content items, overlays, image transformations, images, and modifications that may be applied to image data (e.g., videos or images). This includes real-time modifications, which modify an image as it is captured using device sensors (e.g., one or multiple cameras) of the user system 102 and then displayed on a screen of the user system 102 with the modifications. This also includes modifications to stored content, such as video clips in a collection or group that may be modified. For example, in a user system 102 with access to multiple augmented reality content items, a user can use a single video clip with multiple augmented reality content items to see how the different augmented reality content items will modify the stored clip. Similarly, real-time video capture may use modifications to show how video images currently being captured by sensors of a user system 102 would modify the captured data. Such data may simply be displayed on the screen and not stored in memory, or the content captured by the device sensors may be recorded and stored in memory with or without the modifications (or both). In some systems, a preview feature can show how different augmented reality content items will look within different windows in a display at the same time. This can, for example, enable multiple windows with different pseudorandom animations to be viewed on a display at the same time.

Data and various systems using augmented reality content items or other such transform systems to modify content using this data can thus involve detection of objects (e.g., faces, hands, bodies, cats, dogs, surfaces, objects, etc.), tracking of such objects as they leave, enter, and move around the field of view in video frames, and the modification or transformation of such objects as they are tracked. In various examples, different methods for achieving such transformations may be used. Some examples may involve generating a three-dimensional mesh model of the object or objects, and using transformations and animated textures of the model within the video to achieve the transformation. In some examples, tracking of points on an object may be used to place an image or texture (which may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional) at the tracked position. In still further examples, neural network analysis of video frames may be used to place images, models, or textures in content (e.g., images or frames of video). Augmented reality content items thus refer both to the images, models, and textures used to create transformations in content, as well as to additional modeling and analysis information needed to achieve such transformations with object detection, tracking, and placement.

Real-time video processing can be performed with any kind of video data (e.g., video streams, video files, etc.) saved in a memory of a computerized system of any kind. For example, a user can load video files and save them in a memory of a device, or can generate a video stream using sensors of the device. Additionally, any objects can be processed using a computer animation model, such as a human's face and parts of a human body, animals, or non-living things such as chairs, cars, or other objects.

In some examples, when a particular modification is selected along with content to be transformed, elements to be transformed are identified by the computing device, and then detected and tracked if they are present in the frames of the video. The elements of the object are modified according to the request for modification, thus transforming the frames of the video stream. Transformation of frames of a video stream can be performed by different methods for different kinds of transformation. For example, for transformations of frames mostly referring to changing forms of an object's elements, characteristic points for each element of an object are calculated (e.g., using an Active Shape Model (ASM) or other known methods). Then, a mesh based on the characteristic points is generated for each element of the object. This mesh is used in the following stage of tracking the elements of the object in the video stream. In the process of tracking, the mesh for each element is aligned with a position of each element. Then, additional points are generated on the mesh.

In some examples, transformations changing some areas of an object using its elements can be performed by calculating characteristic points for each element of an object and generating a mesh based on the calculated characteristic points. Points are generated on the mesh, and then various areas based on the points are generated. The elements of the object are then tracked by aligning the area for each element with a position for each of the at least one element, and properties of the areas can be modified based on the request for modification, thus transforming the frames of the video stream. Depending on the specific request for modification, properties of the mentioned areas can be transformed in different ways. Such modifications may involve changing the color of areas; removing some part of areas from the frames of the video stream; including new objects into areas that are based on a request for modification; and modifying or distorting the elements of an area or object. In various examples, any combination of such modifications or other similar modifications may be used. For certain models to be animated, some characteristic points can be selected as control points to be used in determining the entire state-space of options for the model animation.

In some examples of a computer animation model to transform image data using face detection, the face is detected on an image using a specific face detection algorithm (e.g., Viola-Jones). Then, an Active Shape Model (ASM) algorithm is applied to the face region of an image to detect facial feature reference points.

Other methods and algorithms suitable for face detection can be used. For example, in some examples, features are located using a landmark, which represents a distinguishable point present in most of the images under consideration. For facial landmarks, for example, the location of the left eye pupil may be used. If an initial landmark is not identifiable (e.g., if a person has an eyepatch), secondary landmarks may be used. Such landmark identification procedures may be used for any such objects. In some examples, a set of landmarks forms a shape. Shapes can be represented as vectors using the coordinates of the points in the shape. One shape is aligned to another with a similarity transform (allowing translation, scaling, and rotation) that minimizes the average Euclidean distance between shape points. The mean shape is the mean of the aligned training shapes.

A transformation system can capture an image or video stream on a user device (e.g., the user system 102) and perform complex image manipulations locally on the user system 102 while maintaining a suitable user experience, computation time, and power consumption. The complex image manipulations may include size and shape changes, emotion transfers (e.g., changing a face from a frown to a smile), state transfers (e.g., aging a subject, reducing apparent age, changing gender), style transfers, graphical element application, and any other suitable image or video manipulation implemented by a convolutional neural network that has been configured to execute efficiently on the user system 102.

In some examples, a computer animation model to transform image data can be used by a system where a user may capture an image or video stream of the user (e.g., a selfie) using the user system 102 having a neural network operating as part of an interaction client 104 operating on the user system 102. The transformation system operating within the interaction client 104 determines the presence of a face within the image or video stream and provides modification icons associated with a computer animation model to transform image data, or the computer animation model can be present as associated with an interface described herein. The modification icons include changes that are the basis for modifying the user's face within the image or video stream as part of the modification operation. Once a modification icon is selected, the transform system initiates a process to convert the image of the user to reflect the selected modification icon (e.g., generate a smiling face on the user). A modified image or video stream may be presented in a graphical User Interface displayed on the user system 102 as soon as the image or video stream is captured and a specified modification is selected. The transformation system may implement a complex convolutional neural network on a portion of the image or video stream to generate and apply the selected modification. That is, the user may capture the image or video stream and be presented with a modified result in real-time or near real-time once a modification icon has been selected. Further, the modification may be persistent while the video stream is being captured, and the selected modification icon remains toggled. Machine-taught neural networks may be used to enable such modifications.

The graphical User Interface, presenting the modification performed by the transform system, may supply the user with additional interaction options. Such options may be based on the interface used to initiate the content capture and selection of a particular computer animation model (e.g., initiation from a content creator User Interface). In various examples, a modification may be persistent after an initial selection of a modification icon. The user may toggle the modification on or off by tapping or otherwise selecting the face being modified by the transformation system and store it for later viewing or browsing to other areas of the imaging application. Where multiple faces are modified by the transformation system, the user may toggle the modification on or off globally by tapping or selecting a single face modified and displayed within a graphical User Interface. In some examples, individual faces, among a group of multiple faces, may be individually modified, or such modifications may be individually toggled by tapping or selecting the individual face or a series of individual faces displayed within the graphical User Interface.

A story table 318 stores data regarding collections of messages and associated image, video, or audio data, which are compiled into a collection (e.g., a story or a gallery). The creation of a particular collection may be initiated by a particular user (e.g., each user for which a record is maintained in the entity table 308). A user may create a “personal story” in the form of a collection of content that has been created and sent/broadcast by that user. To this end, the User Interface of the interaction client 104 may include an icon that is user-selectable to enable a sending user to add specific content to his or her personal story.

A collection may also constitute a “live story,” which is a collection of content from multiple users that is created manually, automatically, or using a combination of manual and automatic techniques. For example, a “live story” may constitute a curated stream of user-submitted content from various locations and events. Users whose user devices have location services enabled and are at a common location event at a particular time may, for example, be presented with an option, via a User Interface of the interaction client 104, to contribute content to a particular live story. The live story may be identified to the user by the interaction client 104, based on his or her location. The end result is a “live story” told from a community perspective.

A further type of content collection is known as a “location story,” which enables a user whose user system 102 is located within a specific geographic location (e.g., on a college or university campus) to contribute to a particular collection. In some examples, a contribution to a location story may require a second degree of authentication to verify that the end-user belongs to a specific organization or other entity (e.g., is a student on the university campus).

As mentioned above, the video table 314 stores video data that, in some examples, is associated with messages for which records are maintained within the message table 306. Similarly, the image table 316 stores image data associated with messages for which message data is stored in the entity table 308. The entity table 308 may associate various augmentations from the augmentation table 312 with various images and videos stored in the image table 316 and the video table 314.

Data Communications Architecture

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a message 400, according to some examples, generated by an interaction client 104 for communication to a further interaction client 104 via the interaction servers 124. The content of a particular message 400 is used to populate the message table 306 stored within the database 304, accessible by the interaction servers 124. Similarly, the content of a message 400 is stored in memory as “in-transit” or “in-flight” data of the user system 102 or the interaction servers 124. A message 400 is shown to include the following example components:

-   -   Message identifier 402: a unique identifier that identifies the         message 400.     -   Message text payload 434: text, to be generated by a user via a         User Interface of the user system 102, and that is included in         the message 400.     -   Message image payload 404: image data, captured by a camera         component of a user system 102 or retrieved from a memory         component of a user system 102, and that is included in the         message 400. Image data for a sent or received message 400 may         be stored in the image table 406.     -   Message video payload 408: video data, captured by a camera         component or retrieved from a memory component of the user         system 102, and that is included in the message 400. Video data         for a sent or received message 400 may be stored in the video         table 410.     -   Message audio payload 412: audio data, captured by a microphone         or retrieved from a memory component of the user system 102, and         that is included in the message 400.     -   Message augmentation data 414: augmentation data (e.g., filters,         stickers, or other annotations or enhancements) that represents         augmentations to be applied to message image payload 404,         message video payload 408, or message audio payload 412 of the         message 400. Augmentation data for a sent or received message         400 may be stored in the augmentation table 416.     -   Message duration parameter 418: parameter value indicating, in         seconds, the amount of time for which content of the message         (e.g., the message image payload 404, message video payload 408,         message audio payload 412) is to be presented or made accessible         to a user via the interaction client 104.     -   Message geolocation parameter 420: geolocation data (e.g.,         latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates) associated with the         content payload of the message. Multiple message geolocation         parameter 420 values may be included in the payload, each of         these parameter values being associated with respect to content         items included in the content (e.g., a specific image within the         message image payload 404, or a specific video in the message         video payload 408).     -   Message story identifier 422: identifier values identifying one         or more content collections (e.g., “stories” identified in the         story table 424) with which a particular content item in the         message image payload 404 of the message 400 is associated. For         example, multiple images within the message image payload 404         may each be associated with multiple content collections using         identifier values.     -   Message tag 426: each message 400 may be tagged with multiple         tags, each of which is indicative of the subject matter of         content included in the message payload. For example, where a         particular image included in the message image payload 404         depicts an animal (e.g., a lion), a tag value may be included         within the message tag 426 that is indicative of the relevant         animal. Tag values may be generated manually, based on user         input, or may be automatically generated using, for example,         image recognition.     -   Message sender identifier 428: an identifier (e.g., a messaging         system identifier, email address, or device identifier)         indicative of a user of the user system 102 on which the message         400 was generated and from which the message 400 was sent.     -   Message receiver identifier 430: an identifier (e.g., a         messaging system identifier, email address, or device         identifier) indicative of a user of the user system 102 to which         the message 400 is addressed.

The contents (e.g., values) of the various components of message 400 may be pointers to locations in tables within which content data values are stored. For example, an image value in the message image payload 404 may be a pointer to (or address of) a location within an image table 406. Similarly, values within the message video payload 408 may point to data stored within a video table 410, values stored within the message augmentation data 418 may point to data stored in an augmentation table 416, values stored within the message story identifier 422 may point to data stored in a story table 424, and values stored within the message sender identifier 428 and the message receiver identifier 430 may point to user records stored within an entity table 432.

Time-Based Access Limitation Architecture

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an access-limiting process 500, in terms of which access to content (e.g., an ephemeral message 502 and associated multimedia payload of data) or a content collection (e.g., an ephemeral message group 504) may be time-limited (e.g., made ephemeral).

An ephemeral message 502 is shown to be associated with a message duration parameter 506, the value of which determines the amount of time that the ephemeral message 502 will be displayed to a receiving user of the ephemeral message 502 by the interaction client 104. In some examples, an ephemeral message 502 is viewable by a receiving user for up to a maximum of 10 seconds, depending on the amount of time that the sending user specifies using the message duration parameter 506.

The message duration parameter 506 and the message receiver identifier 508 are shown to be inputs to a message timer 510, which is responsible for determining the amount of time that the ephemeral message 502 is shown to a particular receiving user identified by the message receiver identifier 508. In particular, the ephemeral message 502 will be shown to the relevant receiving user for a time period determined by the value of the message duration parameter 506. The message timer 510 is shown to provide output to a more generalized messaging system 512, which is responsible for the overall timing of display of content (e.g., an ephemeral message 502) to a receiving user.

The ephemeral message 502 is shown in FIG. 5 to be included within an ephemeral message group 504 (e.g., a collection of messages in a personal story, or an event story). The ephemeral message group 504 has an associated group duration parameter 514, a value of which determines a time duration for which the ephemeral message group 504 is presented and accessible to users of the interaction system 100. The group duration parameter 514, for example, may be the duration of a music concert, where the ephemeral message group 504 is a collection of content pertaining to that concert. Alternatively, a user (either the owning user or a curator user) may specify the value for the group duration parameter 514 when performing the setup and creation of the ephemeral message group 504.

Additionally, each ephemeral message 502 within the ephemeral message group 504 has an associated group participation parameter 516, a value of which determines the duration of time for which the ephemeral message 502 will be accessible within the context of the ephemeral message group 504. Accordingly, a particular ephemeral message group 504 may “expire” and become inaccessible within the context of the ephemeral message group 504 prior to the ephemeral message group 504 itself expiring in terms of the group duration parameter 514. The group duration parameter 514, group participation parameter 516, and message receiver identifier 508 each provide input to a group timer 518, which operationally determines, firstly, whether a particular ephemeral message 502 of the ephemeral message group 504 will be displayed to a particular receiving user and, if so, for how long. Note that the ephemeral message group 504 is also aware of the identity of the particular receiving user as a result of the message receiver identifier 508.

Accordingly, the group timer 518 operationally controls the overall lifespan of an associated ephemeral message group 504 as well as an individual ephemeral message 502 included in the ephemeral message group 504. In some examples, each and every ephemeral message 502 within the ephemeral message group 504 remains viewable and accessible for a time period specified by the group duration parameter 514. In a further example, a certain ephemeral message 502 may expire within the context of ephemeral message group 504 based on a group participation parameter 516. Note that a message duration parameter 506 may still determine the duration of time for which a particular ephemeral message 502 is displayed to a receiving user, even within the context of the ephemeral message group 504. Accordingly, the message duration parameter 506 determines the duration of time that a particular ephemeral message 502 is displayed to a receiving user regardless of whether the receiving user is viewing that ephemeral message 502 inside or outside the context of an ephemeral message group 504.

The messaging system 512 may furthermore operationally remove a particular ephemeral message 502 from the ephemeral message group 504 based on a determination that it has exceeded an associated group participation parameter 516. For example, when a sending user has established a group participation parameter 516 of 24 hours from posting, the messaging system 512 will remove the relevant ephemeral message 502 from the ephemeral message group 504 after the specified 24 hours. The messaging system 512 also operates to remove an ephemeral message group 504 when either the group participation parameter 516 for each and every ephemeral message 502 within the ephemeral message group 504 has expired, or when the ephemeral message group 504 itself has expired in terms of the group duration parameter 514.

In certain use cases, a creator of a particular ephemeral message group 504 may specify an indefinite group duration parameter 514. In this case, the expiration of the group participation parameter 516 for the last remaining ephemeral message 502 within the ephemeral message group 504 will determine when the ephemeral message group 504 itself expires. In this case, a new ephemeral message 502, added to the ephemeral message group 504, with a new group participation parameter 516, effectively extends the life of an ephemeral message group 504 to equal the value of the group participation parameter 516.

Responsive to the messaging system 512 determining that an ephemeral message group 504 has expired (e.g., is no longer accessible), the messaging system 512 communicates with the interaction system 100 (and, for example, specifically the interaction client 104) to cause an indicium (e.g., an icon) associated with the relevant ephemeral message group 504 to no longer be displayed within a User Interface of the interaction client 104. Similarly, when the messaging system 512 determines that the message duration parameter 506 for a particular ephemeral message 502 has expired, the messaging system 512 causes the interaction client 104 to no longer display an indicium (e.g., an icon or textual identification) associated with the ephemeral message 502.

FIG. 6A is a process flow diagram of a platform notification method 600 and FIG. 6B is a sequence diagram of the platform notification method 600, FIG. 6C, FIG. 6D, FIG. 6E, and FIG. 6F are illustrations of user interfaces of the platform notification method 600, in accordance with some examples. A user device 626, such as any of the user devices of a user system 102, uses the platform notification method 600 to provide a notification to a user that one or more other users in the chat session are using a particular platform to engage in the chat session. The user uses the user device 626 of a user system, such as user system 102, to access one or more interaction servers 124, such as interaction server 628, of interaction system 100, providing the chat session services to the users.

In operation 602, the interaction server 628 receives chat session participation request data 630 from one or more other users using respective one or more other user devices 624. The chat session participation request data 630 includes requests to enter into a chat session and platform data indicating what platform a user is using to access the interaction server 628 and participate in the chat session. The interaction server 628 generates chat status message data 656 including user identifications for the other users in the chat session associated with platform identifications indicating what platform each other user is using to access the interaction server 628 and participate in the chat session based on the chat session participation request data 630. The interaction server 628 communicates the chat status message data 656 to the user device 626.

In operation 604, the interaction server 628 detects one or more other users are using a specified platform based on the chat status message data 656.

In operation 606, the user device 626 determines whether the chat session is a group chat session where two or more other users are in the chat session or the chat session is a one-to-one chat session where one other user is in the chat session.

In operation 608, on a basis of determining that the chat session is a group chat session, the user device 626 provides a group chat session user interface 648 to the user. The group chat session user interface 648 includes a display portion for displaying user communications 634. The group chat session user interface 648 also includes two or more user presence icons 640 associated with the other users indicating a presence of the other users participating in the group chat. The user device 626 determines whether another user is using a specified platform based on the chat status message data 656. On a basis of determining that the another user is using the specified platform, the user device 626 provides a platform presence icon 632 indicating that the another user is using the specified platform. On a basis of determining that the another user is not using the specified platform, the user device 626 provides a presence icon 658 for the another user without a platform indication. The group chat session user interface 648 also includes a specified platform notification 636 indicating that the another user is using the specified platform. The group chat session user interface 648 also includes a selectable education action button 638 that the user selects to learn more about the specified platform.

In operation 610, on a basis of determining that the chat session is a one-to-one chat session, the user device 626 provides a one-to-one chat session user interface 650 to the user. The one-to-one chat session user interface 650 includes a display portion for displaying user communications 634. The one-to-one chat session user interface 650 also includes a presence icon indicating a presence of the other user participating in the one-to-one chat session. The user device 626 determines whether the other user is using a specified platform based on the chat status message data 656. On the basis of determining that the other user is using the specified platform, the user device 626 provides an alternate platform presence icon 642 indicating that the other user is using the specified platform. On a basis of determining that the other user is not using the specified platform, the user device 626 provides a simple presence icon for the other user with no special indications. The one-to-one chat session user interface 650 also includes a specified platform notification 636 indicating that the other user is using the specified platform. The one-to-one chat session user interface 650 also includes a selectable education action button 638 that the user selects to learn more about the specified platform.

In operation 612, the user device 626 detects that the user has selected the selectable education action button 638, whether from the group chat session user interface 648 or the one-to-one chat session user interface 650.

In operation 614, on the basis of detecting that the user has selected the selectable education action button 638, the user device 626 provides a platform education user interface 652 to the user. The platform education user interface 652 includes a task bar with advertising display 660 that includes an informational or advertising display portion for displaying information about the specified platform. The task bar with advertising display 660 also includes a link to further information button 644 selectable by the user to obtain a link to further information about the specified platform to the user. The task bar with advertising display 660 also includes a send action button 662 that the user selects to terminate the platform notification method 600 and proceed with a chat session on an off-platform site.

In operation 616, the user device 626 detects a selection by the user of the link to further information button 644 and copies a Uniform Resource Link (URL) to the specified platform into a clipboard of the user device.

In operation 618, on the basis of detecting the selection by the user of the link to further information button 644, the user device 626 provides a feedback message user interface 654 to the user. The feedback message user interface 654 includes a feedback message 646 indicating that the URL to the specified platform has been copied to a clipboard datastore of the user device 626.

In operation 620, the user device 626 detects selection by the user of the send action button 662. On the basis of detecting selection of the send action button 662, in operation 622, the user device 626 terminates the platform notification method 600 and initiates a chat session on an off-platform site.

In some examples, the user device 626 determines, based on the chat status message data 656, that there are two or more other users using the specified platform. On the basis of determining that there or two or more other users using the specified platform, the user device 626 provides two or more platform presence icons associated respectively with the two or more users using the specified platform (i.e., a platform presence icon is associated with each of the two or more users using the specified platform.)

In some examples, the user device 626 only uses the platform notification method 600 a first time a chat user opens a chat session using the specified platform. To do so, the user device 626 generates text of the specified platform notification 636 based on the chat status message data 656. In some examples, chat status message data 656 is provided once for each user in the chat session using the specified platform while participating in the chat session.

In some examples, if the user device 626 receives multiple chat status messages in the chat status message data 656 during a chat session, the user device 626 concatenates user identifications of specified platform users to generate the specified platform notification 636. In some examples, on the basis of detecting multiple chat status messages being received at different times, the user device 626 generates the text of the specified platform notification 636 based on a most recently received chat status message.

Machine Architecture

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the machine 700 within which instructions 702 (e.g., software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, or other executable code) for causing the machine 700 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. For example, the instructions 702 may cause the machine 700 to execute any one or more of the methods described herein. The instructions 702 transform the general, non-programmed machine 700 into a particular machine 700 programmed to carry out the described and illustrated functions in the manner described. The machine 700 may operate as a standalone device or may be coupled (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine 700 may operate in the capacity of a server machine or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine 700 may comprise, but not be limited to, a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an entertainment media system, a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a mobile device, a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch), a smart home device (e.g., a smart appliance), other smart devices, a web appliance, a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, or any machine capable of executing the instructions 702, sequentially or otherwise, that specify actions to be taken by the machine 700. Further, while a single machine 700 is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include a collection of machines that individually or jointly execute the instructions 702 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. The machine 700, for example, may comprise the user system 102 or any one of multiple server devices forming part of the interaction server system 110. In some examples, the machine 700 may also comprise both client and server systems, with certain operations of a particular method or algorithm being performed on the server-side and with certain operations of the particular method or algorithm being performed on the client-side.

The machine 700 may include processors 704, memory 706, and input/output I/O components 708, which may be configured to communicate with each other via a bus 710. In an example, the processors 704 (e.g., a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) Processor, a Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) Processor, a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC), another processor, or any suitable combination thereof) may include, for example, a processor 712 and a processor 714 that execute the instructions 702. The term “processor” is intended to include multi-core processors that may comprise two or more independent processors (sometimes referred to as “cores”) that may execute instructions contemporaneously. Although FIG. 7 shows multiple processors 704, the machine 700 may include a single processor with a single-core, a single processor with multiple cores (e.g., a multi-core processor), multiple processors with a single core, multiple processors with multiples cores, or any combination thereof.

The memory 706 includes a main memory 716, a static memory 718, and a storage unit 720, both accessible to the processors 704 via the bus 710. The main memory 706, the static memory 718, and storage unit 720 store the instructions 702 embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 702 may also reside, completely or partially, within the main memory 716, within the static memory 718, within machine-readable medium 722 within the storage unit 720, within at least one of the processors 704 (e.g., within the processor's cache memory), or any suitable combination thereof, during execution thereof by the machine 700.

The I/O components 708 may include a wide variety of components to receive input, provide output, produce output, transmit information, exchange information, capture measurements, and so on. The specific I/O components 708 that are included in a particular machine will depend on the type of machine. For example, portable machines such as mobile phones may include a touch input device or other such input mechanisms, while a headless server machine will likely not include such a touch input device. It will be appreciated that the I/O components 708 may include many other components that are not shown in FIG. 7 . In various examples, the I/O components 708 may include user output components 724 and user input components 726. The user output components 724 may include visual components (e.g., a display such as a plasma display panel (PDP), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a projector, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), acoustic components (e.g., speakers), haptic components (e.g., a vibratory motor, resistance mechanisms), other signal generators, and so forth. The user input components 726 may include alphanumeric input components (e.g., a keyboard, a touch screen configured to receive alphanumeric input, a photo-optical keyboard, or other alphanumeric input components), point-based input components (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, or another pointing instrument), tactile input components (e.g., a physical button, a touch screen that provides location and force of touches or touch gestures, or other tactile input components), audio input components (e.g., a microphone), and the like.

In further examples, the I/O components 708 may include biometric components 728, motion components 730, environmental components 732, or position components 734, among a wide array of other components. For example, the biometric components 728 include components to detect expressions (e.g., hand expressions, facial expressions, vocal expressions, body gestures, or eye-tracking), measure biosignals (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, perspiration, or brain waves), identify a person (e.g., voice identification, retinal identification, facial identification, fingerprint identification, or electroencephalogram-based identification), and the like. The motion components 730 include acceleration sensor components (e.g., accelerometer), gravitation sensor components, rotation sensor components (e.g., gyroscope).

The environmental components 732 include, for example, one or cameras (with still image/photograph and video capabilities), illumination sensor components (e.g., photometer), temperature sensor components (e.g., one or more thermometers that detect ambient temperature), humidity sensor components, pressure sensor components (e.g., barometer), acoustic sensor components (e.g., one or more microphones that detect background noise), proximity sensor components (e.g., infrared sensors that detect nearby objects), gas sensors (e.g., gas detection sensors to detection concentrations of hazardous gases for safety or to measure pollutants in the atmosphere), or other components that may provide indications, measurements, or signals corresponding to a surrounding physical environment.

With respect to cameras, the user system 102 may have a camera system comprising, for example, front cameras on a front surface of the user system 102 and rear cameras on a rear surface of the user system 102. The front cameras may, for example, be used to capture still images and video of a user of the user system 102 (e.g., “selfies”), which may then be augmented with augmentation data (e.g., filters) described above. The rear cameras may, for example, be used to capture still images and videos in a more traditional camera mode, with these images similarly being augmented with augmentation data. In addition to front and rear cameras, the user system 102 may also include a 360° camera for capturing 360° photographs and videos.

Further, the camera system of the user system 102 may include dual rear cameras (e.g., a primary camera as well as a depth-sensing camera), or even triple, quad or penta rear camera configurations on the front and rear sides of the user system 102. These multiple cameras systems may include a wide camera, an ultra-wide camera, a telephoto camera, a macro camera, and a depth sensor, for example.

The position components 734 include location sensor components (e.g., a GPS receiver component), altitude sensor components (e.g., altimeters or barometers that detect air pressure from which altitude may be derived), orientation sensor components (e.g., magnetometers), and the like.

Communication may be implemented using a wide variety of technologies. The I/O components 708 further include communication components 736 operable to couple the machine 700 to a network 738 or devices 740 via respective coupling or connections. For example, the communication components 736 may include a network interface component or another suitable device to interface with the network 738. In further examples, the communication components 736 may include wired communication components, wireless communication components, cellular communication components, Near Field Communication (NFC) components, Bluetooth® components (e.g., Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi® components, and other communication components to provide communication via other modalities. The devices 740 may be another machine or any of a wide variety of peripheral devices (e.g., a peripheral device coupled via a USB).

Moreover, the communication components 736 may detect identifiers or include components operable to detect identifiers. For example, the communication components 736 may include Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag reader components, NFC smart tag detection components, optical reader components (e.g., an optical sensor to detect one-dimensional bar codes such as Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code, multi-dimensional bar codes such as Quick Response (QR) code, Aztec code, Data Matrix, Dataglyph, MaxiCode, PDF417, Ultra Code, UCC RSS-2D bar code, and other optical codes), or acoustic detection components (e.g., microphones to identify tagged audio signals). In addition, a variety of information may be derived via the communication components 736, such as location via Internet Protocol (IP) geolocation, location via Wi-Fi® signal triangulation, location via detecting an NFC beacon signal that may indicate a particular location, and so forth.

The various memories (e.g., main memory 716, static memory 718, and memory of the processors 704) and storage unit 720 may store one or more sets of instructions and data structures (e.g., software) embodying or used by any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. These instructions (e.g., the instructions 702), when executed by processors 704, cause various operations to implement the disclosed examples.

The instructions 702 may be transmitted or received over the network 738, using a transmission medium, via a network interface device (e.g., a network interface component included in the communication components 736) and using any one of several well-known transfer protocols (e.g., hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)). Similarly, the instructions 702 may be transmitted or received using a transmission medium via a coupling (e.g., a peer-to-peer coupling) to the devices 740.

Software Architecture

FIG. 8 is a block diagram 800 illustrating a software architecture 802, which can be installed on any one or more of the devices described herein. The software architecture 802 is supported by hardware such as a machine 804 that includes processors 806, memory 808, and I/O components 810. In this example, the software architecture 802 can be conceptualized as a stack of layers, where each layer provides a particular functionality. The software architecture 802 includes layers such as an operating system 812, libraries 814, frameworks 816, and applications 818. Operationally, the applications 818 invoke API calls 820 through the software stack and receive messages 822 in response to the API calls 820.

The operating system 812 manages hardware resources and provides common services. The operating system 812 includes, for example, a kernel 824, services 826, and drivers 828. The kernel 824 acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the other software layers. For example, the kernel 824 provides memory management, processor management (e.g., scheduling), component management, networking, and security settings, among other functionalities. The services 826 can provide other common services for the other software layers. The drivers 828 are responsible for controlling or interfacing with the underlying hardware. For instance, the drivers 828 can include display drivers, camera drivers, BLUETOOTH® or BLUETOOTH® Low Energy drivers, flash memory drivers, serial communication drivers (e.g., USB drivers), WI-FI® drivers, audio drivers, power management drivers, and so forth.

The libraries 814 provide a common low-level infrastructure used by the applications 818. The libraries 814 can include system libraries 830 (e.g., C standard library) that provide functions such as memory allocation functions, string manipulation functions, mathematic functions, and the like. In addition, the libraries 814 can include API libraries 832 such as media libraries (e.g., libraries to support presentation and manipulation of various media formats such as Moving Picture Experts Group-4 (MPEG4), Advanced Video Coding (H.264 or AVC), Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 (MP3), Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) audio codec, Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG or JPG), or Portable Network Graphics (PNG)), graphics libraries (e.g., an OpenGL framework used to render in two dimensions (2D) and three dimensions (3D) in a graphic content on a display), database libraries (e.g., SQLite to provide various relational database functions), web libraries (e.g., WebKit to provide web browsing functionality), and the like. The libraries 814 can also include a wide variety of other libraries 834 to provide many other APIs to the applications 818.

The frameworks 816 provide a common high-level infrastructure that is used by the applications 818. For example, the frameworks 816 provide various graphical User Interface (GUI) functions, high-level resource management, and high-level location services. The frameworks 816 can provide a broad spectrum of other APIs that can be used by the applications 818, some of which may be specific to a particular operating system or platform.

In an example, the applications 818 may include a home application 836, a contacts application 838, a browser application 840, a book reader application 842, a location application 844, a media application 846, a messaging application 848, a game application 850, and a broad assortment of other applications such as a third-party application 852. The applications 818 are programs that execute functions defined in the programs. Various programming languages can be employed to create one or more of the applications 818, structured in a variety of manners, such as object-oriented programming languages (e.g., Objective-C, Java, or C++) or procedural programming languages (e.g., C or assembly language). In a specific example, the third-party application 852 (e.g., an application developed using the ANDROID™ or IOS™ software development kit (SDK) by an entity other than the vendor of the particular platform) may be mobile software running on a mobile operating system such as IOS™, ANDROID™, WINDOWS® Phone, or another mobile operating system. In this example, the third-party application 852 can invoke the API calls 820 provided by the operating system 812 to facilitate functionalities described herein.

Glossary

“Carrier signal” refers to any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by the machine and includes digital or analog communications signals or other intangible media to facilitate communication of such instructions. Instructions may be transmitted or received over a network using a transmission medium via a network interface device.

“User device” refers to any machine that interfaces to a communications network to obtain resources from one or more server systems or other user devices. A user device may be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, desktop computer, laptop, portable digital assistants (PDAs), smartphones, tablets, ultrabooks, netbooks, laptops, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, game consoles, set-top boxes, or any other communication device that a user may use to access a network.

“Communication network” refers to one or more portions of a network that may be an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), the Internet, a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a plain old telephone service (POTS) network, a cellular telephone network, a wireless network, a Wi-Fi® network, another type of network, or a combination of two or more such networks. For example, a network or a portion of a network may include a wireless or cellular network, and the coupling may be a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) connection, a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) connection, or other types of cellular or wireless coupling. In this example, the coupling may implement any of a variety of types of data transfer technology, such as Single Carrier Radio Transmission Technology (1×RTT), Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) technology, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology, third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) including 3G, fourth-generation wireless (4G) networks, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard, others defined by various standard-setting organizations, other long-range protocols, or other data transfer technology.

“Component” refers to a device, physical entity, or logic having boundaries defined by function or subroutine calls, branch points, APIs, or other technologies that provide for the partitioning or modularization of particular processing or control functions. Components may be combined via their interfaces with other components to carry out a machine process. A component may be a packaged functional hardware unit designed for use with other components and a part of a program that usually performs a particular function of related functions. Components may constitute either software components (e.g., code embodied on a machine-readable medium) or hardware components. A “hardware component” is a tangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may be configured or arranged in a certain physical manner. In various examples, one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone computer system, a client computer system, or a server computer system) or one or more hardware components of a computer system (e.g., a processor or a group of processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an application or application portion) as a hardware component that operates to perform certain operations as described herein. A hardware component may also be implemented mechanically, electronically, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, a hardware component may include dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanently configured to perform certain operations. A hardware component may be a special-purpose processor, such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). A hardware component may also include programmable logic or circuitry that is temporarily configured by software to perform certain operations. For example, a hardware component may include software executed by a general-purpose processor or other programmable processors. Once configured by such software, hardware components become specific machines (or specific components of a machine) uniquely tailored to perform the configured functions and are no longer general-purpose processors. It will be appreciated that the decision to implement a hardware component mechanically, in dedicated and permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configured circuitry (e.g., configured by software), may be driven by cost and time considerations. Accordingly, the phrase “hardware component” (or “hardware-implemented component”) should be understood to encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physically constructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarily configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner or to perform certain operations described herein. Considering examples in which hardware components are temporarily configured (e.g., programmed), each of the hardware components need not be configured or instantiated at any one instance in time. For example, where a hardware component comprises a general-purpose processor configured by software to become a special-purpose processor, the general-purpose processor may be configured as respectively different special-purpose processors (e.g., comprising different hardware components) at different times. Software accordingly configures a particular processor or processors, for example, to constitute a particular hardware component at one instance of time and to constitute a different hardware component at a different instance of time. Hardware components can provide information to, and receive information from, other hardware components. Accordingly, the described hardware components may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Where multiple hardware components exist contemporaneously, communications may be achieved through signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuits and buses) between or among two or more of the hardware components. In examples in which multiple hardware components are configured or instantiated at different times, communications between such hardware components may be achieved, for example, through the storage and retrieval of information in memory structures to which the multiple hardware components have access. For example, one hardware component may perform an operation and store the output of that operation in a memory device to which it is communicatively coupled. A further hardware component may then, at a later time, access the memory device to retrieve and process the stored output. Hardware components may also initiate communications with input or output devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection of information). The various operations of example methods described herein may be performed, at least partially, by one or more processors that are temporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured to perform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanently configured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented components that operate to perform one or more operations or functions described herein. As used herein, “processor-implemented component” refers to a hardware component implemented using one or more processors. Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partially processor-implemented, with a particular processor or processors being an example of hardware. For example, at least some of the operations of a method may be performed by one or more processors or processor-implemented components. Moreover, the one or more processors may also operate to support performance of the relevant operations in a “cloud computing” environment or as a “software as a service” (SaaS). For example, at least some of the operations may be performed by a group of computers (as examples of machines including processors), with these operations being accessible via a network (e.g., the Internet) and via one or more appropriate interfaces (e.g., an API). The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed among the processors, not only residing within a single machine, but deployed across a number of machines. In some examples, the processors or processor-implemented components may be located in a single geographic location (e.g., within a home environment, an office environment, or a server farm). In other examples, the processors or processor-implemented components may be distributed across a number of geographic locations.

“Computer-readable storage medium” refers to both machine-storage media and transmission media. Thus, the terms include both storage devices/media and carrier waves/modulated data signals. The terms “machine-readable medium,” “computer-readable medium” and “device-readable medium” mean the same thing and may be used interchangeably in this disclosure.

“Ephemeral message” refers to a message that is accessible for a time-limited duration. An ephemeral message may be a text, an image, a video and the like. The access time for the ephemeral message may be set by the message sender. Alternatively, the access time may be a default setting or a setting specified by the recipient. Regardless of the setting technique, the message is transitory.

“Machine storage medium” refers to a single or multiple storage devices and media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and associated caches and servers) that store executable instructions, routines and data. The term shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media, including memory internal or external to processors. Specific examples of machine-storage media, computer-storage media and device-storage media include non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), FPGA, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks The terms “machine-storage medium,” “device-storage medium,” “computer-storage medium” mean the same thing and may be used interchangeably in this disclosure. The terms “machine-storage media,” “computer-storage media,” and “device-storage media” specifically exclude carrier waves, modulated data signals, and other such media, at least some of which are covered under the term “signal medium.”

“Non-transitory computer-readable storage medium” refers to a tangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying the instructions for execution by a machine.

“Signal medium” refers to any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying the instructions for execution by a machine and includes digital or analog communications signals or other intangible media to facilitate communication of software or data. The term “signal medium” shall be taken to include any form of a modulated data signal, carrier wave, and so forth. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a matter as to encode information in the signal. The terms “transmission medium” and “signal medium” mean the same thing and may be used interchangeably in this disclosure.

In the foregoing description various examples of the present disclosure have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The various examples were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principals of the disclosure and their practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the various examples with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled. 

1. A method comprising: receiving, by one or more processors, from a server, chat status message data for a chat session; detecting, by the one or more processors, a specified platform being used by a user in the chat session based on the chat status message data; providing, by the one or more processors, a chat session user interface; providing, by the one or more processors, within the chat session user interface, based on detecting the user using the specified platform, a platform presence icon associated with the user indicating that the user is using the specified platform and a selectable education action button; in response to detecting, by the one or more processors, selection by the user of the selectable education action button, providing, by the one or more processors, a platform education user interface comprising: a task bar with an advertising display portion advertising the specified platform; and a link to further information button selectable by the user to access a Uniform Resource Link (URL) to additional information on the specified platform.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: based on determining, by the one or more processors, that the chat session is a group chat session, performing operations comprising: determining, by the one or more processors, that there are two or more users using the specified platform; and providing, by the one or more processors, two or more platform presence icons associated respectively with the two or more users using the specified platform.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing, by the one or more processors, based on determining a selection by the user of the link to further information button, a feedback message indicating that the URL has been copied to a clipboard datastore.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the chat session user interface includes a specified platform notification.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the specified platform notification includes an identification of one or more users using the specified platform.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: generating, by the one or more processors, based on detecting multiple chat status messages including in the chat status message data received at different times, text of the specified platform notification based on a most recently received chat status message.
 8. A machine comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the machine to perform operations comprising: receiving from a server, chat status message data for a chat session; detecting a specified platform being used by a user in the chat session based on the chat status message data; providing a chat session user interface; providing within the chat session user interface, based on detecting the user using the specified platform, a platform presence icon associated with the user indicating that the user is using the specified platform and a selectable education action button; in response to detecting selection by the user of the selectable education action button, providing a platform education user interface comprising: a task bar with an advertising display portion advertising the specified platform; and a link to further information button selectable by the user to access a Uniform Resource Link (URL) to additional information on the specified platform.
 9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the machine to perform operations comprising: performing, based on determining that the chat session is a group chat session, operations comprising: determining that there are two or more users using the specified platform; and providing two or more platform presence icons associated respectively with the two or more users using the specified platform.
 10. (canceled)
 11. The machine of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the machine to perform operations comprising: providing based on determining a selection by the user of the link to further information button, a feedback message indicating that the URL has been copied to a clipboard datastore.
 12. The machine of claim 8, wherein the chat session user interface includes a specified platform notification.
 13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the specified platform notification includes an identification of one or more users using the specified platform.
 14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the machine to perform operations comprising: generating based on detecting multiple chat status messages including in the chat status message data received at different times, text of the specified platform notification based on a most recently received chat status message.
 15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by one or more processors, cause a machine to perform operations comprising: receiving from a server, chat status message data for a chat session; detecting a specified platform being used by a user in the chat session based on the chat status message data; providing a chat session user interface; providing within the chat session user interface, based on detecting the user using the specified platform, a platform presence icon associated with the user indicating that the user is using the specified platform and a selectable education action button; in response to detecting selection by the user of the selectable education action button, providing a platform education user interface comprising: a task bar with an advertising display portion advertising the specified platform; and a link to further information button selectable by the user to access a Uniform Resource Link (URL) to additional information on the specified platform.
 16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the machine to perform operations comprising: based on determining that the chat session is a group chat session, performing operations comprising: determining that there are two or more users using the specified platform; and providing two or more platform presence icons associated respectively with the two or more users using the specified platform.
 17. (canceled)
 18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the machine to perform operations comprising: providing, based on determining a selection by the user of the link to further information button, a feedback message indicating that the URL has been copied to a clipboard datastore.
 19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the chat session user interface includes a specified platform notification.
 20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the specified platform notification includes an identification of one or more users using the specified platform.
 21. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the machine to perform operations comprising: generating, based on detecting multiple chat status messages including in the chat status message data received at different times, text of the specified platform notification based on a most recently received chat status message.
 22. The method of claim 1, further comprising: initiating, based on a user selection, a chat session on an off-platform site after providing the educational user interface.
 23. The machine of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the machine to perform operations comprising: initiating, based on a user selection, a chat session on an off-platform site after providing the educational user interface. 